New Delhi Rejects Dhaka’s Concerns After Summoning of Pranay Verma

Serious concern has been conveyed over the provocative statements made by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while staying in India with the aim of thwarting the upcoming parliamentary election, and the Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka has been summoned in this regard. On Sunday (December 14) afternoon, High Commissioner Pranay Verma was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

However, the Indian government has rejected the issues over which Bangladesh expressed concern. In a statement issued this evening, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, “India categorically rejects the claims made by Bangladesh’s interim government in the press note dated December 14.”

Earlier, in a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that while summoning the Indian High Commissioner, Bangladesh reiterated its call for the swift extradition of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to Dhaka for the execution of sentences handed down by Bangladesh’s judicial authorities.

The statement further said that the High Commissioner’s attention was drawn to the anti-Bangladesh activities of absconding Awami League members currently residing in India. These activities include assisting in the planning, organisation, and implementation of terrorist activities in Bangladesh with the aim of obstructing the upcoming election.

The statement mentioned that the Government of India was urged to take immediate and effective measures to stop such criminal activities and to promptly extradite the concerned fascist terrorists to Bangladesh.

In addition, cooperation was sought to prevent suspects involved in the recent attempted assassination of Bangladeshi political leader Sharif Osman Hadi from fleeing to India. At the same time, India’s assistance was expected for their immediate arrest and extradition to Bangladesh should they enter Indian territory.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly stated that, as a neighbouring country, India is expected to stand by the people of Bangladesh in establishing justice and safeguarding democratic processes.

Meanwhile, in its statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs further said, “We have consistently reiterated our position in favour of free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections in Bangladesh in a peaceful environment.”

The statement added, “India has never allowed its territory to be used for activities contrary to the interests of the friendly people of Bangladesh. We hope that Bangladesh’s interim government will take all necessary measures to ensure internal law and order, including the holding of peaceful elections.”